Same Contenders, New Tiebreaker Rule Field Hockey

September 01, 1985|by RICKI STEIN, The Morning Call

Every year, one or more field hockey playoff games inevitably end in a tie and subsequent one-on-one shooter-versus-goalie strokeoff. Every year, one or more coaches lament that strokeoffs are an unfair manner in which to end a playoff game.

"A whole season shouldn't come down to a strokeoff when the whole team has been involved all along," several coaches remarked last year during the District 11 Championships. "They've got to come up with something different."

Well, they came up with something different. In yet another annual change of rules - for which field hockey is well known - the 1984-85 playoff season will be known for the 10-second tiebreaker. At the end of regulation, the teams will play two 10-minute, sudden death periods. (The sudden death approach is new). If the game is still tied, each coach will select five players. Starting at the 25-yard line, each girl has 10 seconds in which to score against the goalie in the cage.

"I think it's fairer," said Debbie Bross, who coached the Moravian Academy girls to the PIAA State AA championship last year. "The goalkeeper is at a slight advantage, at least that was the consensus (at Camp Tegawitha three weeks ago). Coaches from New Jersey and Delaware were there and they used the rule last year. They like it."

Emmaus coach Sue Butz, whose teams have been involved in plenty of strokeoffs over the years - most notably against Easton High School in the District 11 championship finals - said she likes the 10-second rule. She added, "The sudden death periods will help. If a game goes to the second sudden death period, the better team might win because conditioning would come into play."

Northwestern High School coach Cathy McCullough seemed to findthe new rule laughable. "The player can do anything she wants. She can bring the ball into the circle, stand on her head, spin around, or just keep hitting the ball at the goalie. If she scores, her time is up. Or when the referee counts down to zero, she's done. The only thing the goalie can do is clear the ball back over the endline or back across the circle . . . then the shooter can shoot again. The goalie's dead."

At a recent rules interpretation meeting, coaches were happy about an additional rule that calls for a one-minute timeout per half. Some were amused about the tiebreaker rule, McCullough reported.

"It's hysterical. It's one of those things that somebody dreams up to throw out at everyone to get a laugh out of them," McCullough decided.

Will coaches move from tears to laughter? Hockey fans can answer the question in November. Meanwhile, regular league seasons begin Wednesday and Thursday and teams are ready to stick it out.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Bross said she doesn't want her players to feel pressured about having to follow up last year's state championship with another.

"We're going with a clean slate," Bross insisted. "We don't want to forget the experience, but this is a new team. We've got a new unit, which is coming together nicely after living and working together at camp. We worked with Vonnie Gros (former U.S. Olympic field hockey coach) and she was terrific."

Five of Bross' state-title players graduated, including hard-driving Lynn Iannotta and cherry-picking goal scorer Susan McCann. Returnees include goalie Abby Detweiler, a senior from Coopersburg who has plenty of experience, agility and quick reactions.

Other returners are seniors Jennifer Smackey of Bethlehem; Monica Hudimac of Allentown; Judi Cassel of Quakertown and Jackie Farleyand sophomore Lisa Farley, both of Stroudsburg. Liz Newton of Easton and Liz Alberti of Bethlehem, who were subs last year, should see plenty of playing time.

Bross noted that 45 girls are out for the team. The Lions will play several Colonial League teams as well as private schools during the regular season.

EAST PENN CONFERENCE

Emmaus, Allen, Easton and Phillipsburg typically head the list of 10 East Penn Conference schools and will likely finish in the forefront again this year. Freedom, which has struggled in the past few years, hopes to fare better with a change in coaching personnel. Val Davis is the new Patriot coach.

Six players may be gone from Emmaus' 20-3-2 District 11 AAA Champion and state semifinalist, but Butz has plenty of power coming back. Tara Comstock, who Butz said was the key to much of her team's success last year, is enrolled at West Chester University. Super athlete MaryEllen Jaskuta (a senior) and high-scoring Tracy Stauffer (junior) are back, however, after making the EPC All-Star team and the Keystone Games Region 2 scholastic team this summer.

Other returnees include senior forward Amy Stavin, who scored 12 goals last year; senior Kristin Miller, who scored 11 goals last year; and senior Lisa Gutschall at link or back.